Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-05-25

like magic 100 feet into the air and lighted
up the country for a score of miles about.
| The gas leaves the wells with pressure
of 400 pounds to he Squar- inch and with
so mach force that il has raised piece oil
iron weighing three tons more than lOU
feet above the ground.
/ At present the wells, with the eXeep-
ton of nine new ones, are sealed up with
iron connections and valves, and Is only
opened when it is desired to treat visitors
TO a rare and engaging spectacle. On the
10th of next month there Is to be cele-
hTation at Findlay to commemorate the
first anniversary OF the application OF
natural gas in Ohio to the mechanical arts,
aud / believe on that occasion all OF the
wells are to be opened. If half OF them
are lighted at one time they will make
one OF the most intense and brilliant illu-
limitations ever witnessed.
~
Gas is no longer wasted in large quantl-
ties, though it is burned with the utmost
freedom. When one alights from the cars
glumes of fame tlaring from 100 tall pipes
greet the eyes. These flames burn both
night and day. Natural gas is rs cheap as
air in Findlay, and any man can have
gas well in his yard if he chooses. The
cost of drilling q well is about 81, 800, but
gas is supplied so cheaply to consumers
that no one thinks of drilling well except
tor factory or mill. The city ownes
number of fine wells and has pipes under
all the streets. Gas is furnished to con-
sumers for fifteen cents month for each
crate or stove, and the consumer Is per
mitted to burn as much or as little as he
chooses. There are no meters or other
measuring aparatns used
The gas has distinct and penetrating
sulphuric OdOr, so that il is safer for house
hold use than manufactured gas, as it can
not esrape without being quickly detected.
Gas is n great luxury as "a fuel. There is
no smoke, dirt or expensive manipulation
with it. 1t is easily managed
and burns with beautiful blue flame that
emits an immense heat which never varies
in degree
There is a good deal of speculation re-
speeding the parmanency of the supply of
natural gas The data is not abundant,
but much can be cOniectured from what Is
known. There are gas wells in this cOun
try that nave been burning for hundred
wears, and it is said that in China there
are gas wells 1000 years old. The cele-
brated naptha wells, near Baku, on the
Caspian, esteemed sacred centu-
ries ago by the Persian fire worshipers, are
still flowing with undiminished yigOr.
None Ofthe wells at Findlay show signs of
failing, hut on the other hand the pressure
in some OF them is increasing and the vol
ume is larger than it was when they were
first struck.
The natural gas development in and
ahOnt Findlay has caused one Of the most
business eXcitemcnts Of the
post bellum period The great body OF
men who are ever ready to embark i'll new
enterprises and speculation found an IN
viting opportunity here. Last year man
ufacturing establishments began to locate
in Fmdlay, and early in February last
general attention was attracted to Find
lay by n purchase of land which Senator
Sherman made. In month real estate
men, oil men, gas men and spectators Of
all sorts ilOCked to the town, and 1t sud
denly assumed the air of a dashing western
mining city. The streets and hotels were
crowded with thrOngs of excited people,
and the new corners increased 20 rapidly
that 500 or coo were compelled to 90 to
towns near by each night.
The traffic in lots became general, and
men, women and children could he seen in
real estate transactions of greater or less
There WAS great deal Of
in Farms i'll the gas belt, and
one agent told me he had sold the same
farm ten times. hundreds Of farmers
have been made rich, but cannot
think they have gained as much in
contentment rs they have in wealth.
One odd character sold his farm for
81, 600 and came to the town to live. He
brought with him three Strapping daught-
ers, and this strange quartet, in garments
cut in styles that were popular quarter OF
a century ago, wander about the streets IN
a helpless and hopeless sort of a way, won
dcring what to do with their money now
that they have gotit. The land which Sen
atur Sherman paid $50, 600 tor has advanced
in three months to $3.50, 600 in value. The
of Fiudloy has grown from
j, 600 to $4,000 in a year.
Probably no section Of the country has
experienced in so short time more re-
markable awakening as the finding of nat
urll gus has brought to northwestern
Ohio. FRANK b. LOOMS.